Mariotti Show: Wednesday, October 16th

Missed part of the show? Here’s a rewind of the program on October 16, 2013.

The Mariotti Show streams live M-F noon to 3 ET.

Hour One on The Jay Mariotti Show: October 16, 2013:
Jay defends Peyton Manning against the screwballish comments of Colts owner Jim Irsay, who devalues Manning’s Indianapolis career in a controversial interview and seems to think it’s all about Irsay — wanting to accomplish more with Andrew Luck than Manning did in his one-championship career there. The comments are rude, inexcusable and unappreciative of what Manning did for that franchise and that city; as Tony Dungy says, the new stadium wouldn’t be there and the Colts would be in Los Angeles without Manning’s contributions. Jay says Manning shouldn’t participate in the pre-game ceremony Sunday in Indy before the Broncos-Colts game; it only will distract him as he prepares for a big game, and Irsay doesn’t deserve his participation. Jay understands that the Colts had to draft Luck; there’s no need for Irsay to dis Manning’s career in the process. Jay says nothing is more insufferable than an owner who doesn’t understand his place. Stop talking about the beards; the Red Sox are about fate and family, not fuzz, and it’s amazing they’ve been able to ride two swings of the bat — when they’ve otherwise struck out a record 43 times in the first three games of the LDS — to a 2-1 lead over the Tigers and their sensational starting pitchers. Jay scolds Don Mattingly — again — for the ill-advised decision to start rusty Ricky Nolasco in Game 4 instead of Zach Greinke. You saw how that worked out, and the Dodgers look dead in the NLCS.

Hour Two on The Jay Mariotti Show: October 16, 2013:
Jay resets the Manning-Irsay story and applauds Broncos coach John Fox, former Colts coach Tony Dungy and former Colts executive Bill Polian for having Manning’s back and defending him. Jay says this only creates bigger ratings on NBC for the Sunday night game. Josh Freeman gets the start for Minnesota on Monday night against the Giants in the Meadowlands, and Jay says Freeman has a chance to have the last laugh over his former coach in Tampa Bay, Greg Schiano, who can’t possibly survive a catastrophic season. A good second half of the season sets up Freeman for a decent free-agent payday. Jay admires the airtight efficiency of the St. Louis Cardinals and says there’s no way they’ll blow a 3-1 NLCS lead two straight years. Jay again wonders about Mattingly’s pitching decision — even if Greinke wins Game 5, the Cardinals come back with unhittable Michael Wacha and ace Adam Wainwright in Games 6 and 7 in St. Louis

Hour Three on The Jay Mariotti Show: October 16, 2013:
More Manning news starts the hour — Bill Polian tears into Jim Irsay, sounding bitter as he uses the word “fired” to describe what happened to him, Manning and coach Jim Caldwell in Indianapolis two years ago. Irsay sounds like a baby who didn’t get his second Super Bowl ring and is taking it out on too many people, which is kind of creepy. Jay says the Tigers have to start hitting — the power outage extends beyond the Comerica Park lights — and is disturbed that Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder missed on late RBI opportunities. The Tigers are wasting a historic run of starting pitching performances. Jay promises he’ll get to the NBA at some point, and does wonder why Dwight Howard’s continues to obsess over Orlando; he says the Magic shouldn’t have given his No. 12 to another player, who happens to be honoring a leukemia-stricken friend. Jay predicts a Cardinals closeout and another Boston win, behind Jake Peavy, in Game 4 tonight.

Missed part of The Mariotti Show? The Jay Mariotti Podcast for Tuesday, August 19: Meet Johnny Flipoff, the latest incarnation of a bratty quarterback who has no business leading an NFL offense. Between his extended midd